OnePlus no longer exclusively sells phones with flagship processors; budget models are also on the menu now. Its most affordable 5G phone, the Nord N10 5G, is receiving a new OxygenOS update. There's not too much on offer, but it does include the latest security patch.
Two months after the original European launch, OnePlus has officially brought the N10 5G to the US at $300. But this new move downmarket with the Nord brand still doesn't live up to the smash-hit original. Bugs with the touchscreen, connectivity, and performance have been ironed out since our original review, but the phone still doesn't quite earn our recommendation given the lackluster update policy and competition — even with the benefits of 5G.
OnePlus announced Nord N10 5G and N100 US availability a few days ago, and it turns out there are some pre-order bonuses being offered as well. Depending on which phone you buy and where you order from, you could end up with a $30-$50 gift card or a pair of wireless OnePlus earphones.
OnePlus is finally bringing both of its latest budget phones stateside. Available on Friday, January 15th, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G will cost $300, while the N100 rings in at $180. Both phones will be available at OnePlus's online storefront and T-Mobile — the exclusive US carrier for the devices.
OnePlus has just announced the rollout of OxygenOS 10.5.8 for the Nord N10 5G. This latest update doesn't deliver any specifically named features, but it does have improvements to power consumption, system stability, the camera, and connection stability, plus the currently latest December 2020 security patches.
OnePlus expanded its budget lineup of Nord smartphones with two new devices earlier this month. While the N10 5G and the N100 aren't yet available in the US, the phones are starting to become available in the UK. OnePlus is taking this time to officially release the kernel sources for its newest devices.
OnePlus' new Nord-series phones aren't just cut-down midrangers, they're also getting a cut-down update policy. OnePlus is backtracking on the schedule set in 2018, guaranteeing just one Android version update for both the N10 5G and N100. That means the two new phones will only get the already-released Android 11-based OxygenOS 11, paired with only two years of security updates.
As expected, OnePlus has just announced the latest products in its affordable Nord smartphone range. The recently leaked Nord N10 5G comes in at slightly cheaper than the original Nord (£329 vs £379 in the UK), while the N100 costs substantially less at £179. They'll be available in Europe next month, but there's no concrete information on when they'll be arriving in the US.